Wiggle would like to offers its congratulations to Bradley Wiggins CBE. What a year it has been! It has taken Bradley from his early season success at the Volta ao Algarve (third place finish overall) to now winning the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Oh, plus there were a few other big results in between!

Bradley then followed the Volta ao Algarve with victory at the Paris-Nice stage race, also called ‘the Race to the Sun’. Wiggo claimed a stage win too by winning the final time trial. This meant that he claimed both the yellow leaders’ jersey as well as the green points jersey- a remarkable feat.

At this point, press speculation was rife with concern that “he’s peaked too soon”. However, those close to Team Sky were 100% confident that everything was going exactly to plan. 2012 was set to be a very, very special year.

Up next was the Tour de Romandie, another race used by Tour contenders to see where they are against their rivals. This race was momentous; the cycling world saw Wiggo win a bunch sprint! This was something that most cycling fans would never have thought they’d see- not in their wildest dreams. Bradley Wiggins continued the fine form and claimed the overall race victory. He picked up another stage win along the way too, in the final time trial.

 

 

Surely, this was it? Wiggo’s winning ways had to come to an end? How long could this form, this awesome display of fitness and these outstanding results continue for?

 

The Critérium du Dauphiné was to be the final test of fitness  for the man from Maida Vale ahead of the supreme goal for 2012, le Tour de France. Starting on 3rd June, Wiggins took possession of the leader’s jersey at the end of Stage 1. It remained firmly wrapped around his shoulders for the entire week of the race, right up until the final victory podium in Châtel. By the end, Wiggins and his Team Sky teammates had taken absolute control of the race. They’d won the overall leader award, the team award, secured two stage wins and placed four riders in the top nine places in the overall classification. By now, the cycling media was completely buzzing about what was going on! These cyclists were phenomenal.

 

 

It’s fair to say that little needs to be added about the 2012 le Tour de France. The media coverage was incredible so it’s probably already been covered or heard about! Though for those of you that didn’t hear (really?!), Bradley Wiggins’ performance will go down as one of the greatest sporting moments in history. He began the race as one of the favourites to take overall victory and Didn’t disappoint. On the seventh stage of twenty (the first real mountainous stage of the race), Wiggo took the maillot jaune. Wiggins continued to dazzle in yellow, until he stood atop the winners’ stage in Paris a fortnight later. This had never before been achieved by a British cyclist. A sea of Union Jack flags were waved roadside, acknowledging this glorious and magical July day in Paris.

 

 

We didn’t think that it could get any better but Wiggo proved us wrong. He went one step further and romped ahead to win the gold medal 2012 London Olympic Time Trial title. The media adored him and splashed his face across front pages around the world. The image of Bradley Wiggins giving a dual peace sign, whilst casually sitting on a throne in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, is now iconic.

 

 

What’s next? Our cycling champion is getting ready for an exciting 2013. Bradley Wiggins will have to decide which of the the Grand Tours to focus on; Giro d’Italia, le Tour de France or the Vuelta a España. Whatever the choice, bring on the 2013 season!

Wiggle are extremely proud to be partners of the BRADLEY WIGGINS FOUNDATION sportive  & have the charity as a co-sponsor of WIGGLE HONDA PRO CYCLING .

COMPETITION – WIN a SIGNED WIGGO TDF YELLOW JERSEY & BOOK!

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WIN a Le Coq Sportif official Tour de France leaders jersey SIGNED BY BRADLEY WIGGINS & a ‘21 Days to Glory‘ book SIGNED BY DAVE BRAILSFORD!

To enter the competition simply tell us your favourite WIGGO MOMENT from 2012 in the comments below* & we will pick one lucky winner at 2pm (UK time) on 21/12/12

*comments are moderated so won’t appear immediately, please don’t put any contact details in the body of the text – we will contact you by the email address provided should you be successful! Best of Luck!